Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 124: Thoughtful

Chapter 124: Thoughtful

To her surprise, it was Mason standing behind her, looking at her with a slight, amused smirk. The moment their eyes met, she felt her pulse slow just a little, the tension in her shoulders easing.

"Mason," she breathed, a smile instantly spreading across her face, both relieved and happy to see him.

"Ellen," he replied, his tone casual but warm, as if he wasn’t surprised to find her here.

Before she could say anything else, Philip appeared just behind him. "Ellen! What a pleasant surprise!" Philip greeted her with far more enthusiasm than she had expected, his smile wide as he looked genuinely happy to see her.

Ellen chuckled softly, turning her attention to Philip. "Hi, Philip. It’s good to see you too," she said warmly. She always found Philip’s energy refreshing. He was one of the few people in Mason’s world who seemed genuinely approachable and friendly.

"You’re looking as lovely as always," Philip added, his words making her blush slightly. He was always kind, and it wasn’t hard to see why he got along so well with Mason. Despite his energetic nature, he knew when to tone it down.

"Thank you, Philip," Ellen responded, still smiling, feeling a little more at ease.

Mason cleared his throat pointedly, raising an eyebrow as he shifted his attention between Ellen and Philip. His expression made it clear that he was waiting, and Ellen could see the faintest trace of impatience flicker across his face. It wasn’t an aggressive gesture, but it was more of a reminder that he didn’t like being ignored.

"So," Mason finally said, cutting through the comfortable chatter, "what are you doing here?" His voice held a hint of curiosity but was mostly filled with the same no-nonsense tone he used during meetings.

Ellen blinked, briefly thrown off by his question before she smiled again, trying to remain cheerful. "I was hoping we could have lunch together," she said, a hopeful tone in her voice as she looked up at him.

Mason’s brows furrowed slightly as if he hadn’t expected that. "I just got back from a lunch meeting," he replied.

Ellen felt her heart sink just a little at his response. She had known there was always a chance he’d already have plans or that work might get in the way. She tried to keep her smile in place, but it was clear she was really bummed out.

"Oh," she murmured softly, her fingers lightly tracing the strap of her purse as she glanced down. "I suppose I should’ve thought about that possibility." Her voice was quiet, more to herself than to Mason, but she quickly looked up again, forcing a brighter expression. "It’s fine, then. I’ll just head home." She gave him a small smile, trying to hide the slight sting of rejection in her chest. She waved politely at Philip. "Bye, Philip. Maybe next time."

Philip, who had been watching the interaction, quickly sensed the shift in the mood and offered her a sympathetic smile. "Goodbye, Ellen. I’m sure next time will be better."

Ellen was about to turn and leave when she felt Mason’s hand gently close around her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. The touch was firm but not harsh, enough to make her pause and look back at him with surprise. Mason’s gaze was steady, a flicker of something unreadable in his dark eyes.

"I’ll be back in half an hour or so," Mason said over his shoulder to Philip, his voice firm and without hesitation. Philip simply nodded, understanding that Mason had made his decision.

Before Ellen could fully process what was happening, Mason was already leading her toward the elevator, his hand still wrapped around hers. She could feel the strength in his grip, and it left her momentarily stunned. Her heart fluttered, a mixture of confusion and excitement rushing through her.

"Mason, wait—" she started to say, but he cut her off with a glance that silenced her without words. There was something determined in his expression, and she didn’t have the energy to protest.

As the elevator doors slid shut, sealing them in the confined space, Ellen couldn’t help but glance over at Mason. His grip on her hand was firm but not tight, as though he wanted to make sure she stayed close but not uncomfortable.

"Mason, where are we going?" Ellen finally asked, her voice soft but filled with curiosity. She tilted her head slightly, trying to catch his eye, but Mason didn’t immediately respond. His expression remained stoic, eyes focused straight ahead, as if deep in thought.

The silence between them stretched, and she fidgeted with the strap of her purse, biting her lip as she waited for him to say something—anything. But instead, the only sound was the gentle hum of the elevator as it descended.

When the elevator doors opened with a soft chime, Mason stepped out without hesitation, still holding her hand as he led her out into a long hallway. Ellen followed closely, her eyes scanned the space around her, trying to piece together where they might be headed.

It wasn’t long before they entered a bright, open area, and Ellen quickly realized where they were. Mason had brought her to the company’s cafeteria. The large, spacious room was filled with employees sitting at sleek tables, some chatting quietly, others focused on their meals.

Mason finally stopped walking and turned to her. "I can’t stay too long," he said in his usual practical tone, glancing around the cafeteria as if calculating how much time he could spare. "So, I brought you here for lunch."

Ellen blinked, momentarily surprised. "Lunch? But... didn’t you already have lunch?" she asked, her brows knitting together in confusion.

Mason’s gaze flickered to her, and a faint smile played at the corner of his mouth. "I did," he admitted, his voice calm. "But you haven’t."

Ellen felt her heart warm at his words, a smile spreading across her face as she looked up at him. She hadn’t expected this small gesture, especially given how busy he always seemed. For a moment, she just stared at him, surprised at how thoughtful he could be, even in his subtle way.

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